"I found it pertinent for your readers that you mentioned that Rafah’s actual population is six times bigger than before October 7 and that you included voices from different governmental representatives to show how unpopular an Israeli military operation is."
To:
Mouhamad Rachini, Journalist, CBC News
Brodie Fenlon, News Editor-in-Chief, CBC News
Dear Mouhamad Rachini, and Brodie Fenlon,
I am writing to thank you for the article: “Canada joins allies in warning Israel that ground offensive in Rafah would be ‘catastrophic,’” published on February 14 on CBC News.
It was refreshing to read an article that gave rich and dense coverage of Rafah amidst Israel’s assault.
I found it pertinent for your readers that you mentioned that Rafah’s actual population is six times bigger than before October 7 and that you included voices from different governmental representatives to show how unpopular an Israeli military operation is.
The fact that you quote a doctor describing Rafah as a “closed jail” paints a picture even more gruesome for your readers, as Gaza was already described as an “open-air prison.”
I, however, would have appreciated your article even more if you added Palestinian voices from Canada and Rafah than only the brief testimony of Ayah Baloosha that you provided.
Adding more Palestinian voices would have made your readers understand even more why the evacuation is catastrophic and controversial. It would have raised more clearly the issue of forced expulsion, which is illegal.
I hope CBC will take into consideration my recommendation when covering Rafah in the future.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East